Liquid dispenser



Dec. 6, 1938. G, c. ERB

LIQUID DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 1'7, 1937 4 Dc. 6, 1938. G. C. ERB I 2,138,844

` LIQUID DISPENSER Filed July 17, 1957 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2 1NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF IC E LIQUID DISPENSER Application July 17, 19337., -Serial No. 154,273

5 Claims.

The .present invention relates to a liquid dispensing device which is adapted to receive and hold lthe liquid from Va sealed `receptacle or can, and has particular reference to a movable-cradle .5 disposed within Ythe dispensing device and adapted to receive land hold the sealed ican while the latter is impaled Aon elements which produce a pouring-opening in an end of the can Yand also simultaneously mutilate its body so that its re-use I as a container of 'liquids is prevented.

An object of Vthevinvention is the provision of a liquid dispensing device having a movable cradle for carrying a can to be opened and Vfor holding the ican at an angle relatveto lcan vopening Aand l can mutilatingelements disposed'within the dispensingdevice so that .movement of the cradle will impale the can on the elements .in such a manner as to produce a pouring opening on vone wall of the can for emptying its contents into the dispensing device and to simultaneously `mutilate another wall of the Ycan .so vthat the latter willibe rendered unfit v`for subsequent use as a container of liquids.

Numerous xother vob'j ects fand .advantages of the invention will be apparent iasit is better understood from the 'following-description, which,taken Yin vconnection with the 4accompanying drawings, discloses 'a preferredzembodiment thereof.

Referring Ato the' drawings:

Figure 1 =is a .part sectional, Vpart elevational view of a canned oil `dispensing-device embodying the instantinvention, a can being shown in posi- Vtionreadyto be opened;

Fig. 2is a top plan viewof the device, rthe can being-omitted;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged section of the upper :porvtion of the dispensing device, showing a can in .sectionand .in opened position;

Fig. iis a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line 5 5 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. `6 is an enlarged perspective view Yofthe opened and mutilated end of a can :removed -from the dispensing device afterit has been Adrained of its contents.

As apreferred embodiment of-theinvention the drawings illustrate a device .which is adapted to dispense canned lubricating oil suchas used in automobiles. The device includes a `dispenser A (Fig. 1) which is adapted -to receive Va can B vto be opened and to collectandhold the contents of thefcan-after it is opened, a cradle C for holding .the can while it is in the dispenser, a can'opena mutilatingelement EE =for mutilating the can so that it will be unfit -for subsequent use asa container'oi liquids.

The dispenser A is similar to `dispensers now commonly used in-oil and-gasoline stations and in .i5 garages for dispensing canned lubricating oil.

It includes =a tubular body Il (Fig. 1) which in Cross-section is formed with straight and parallel side Walls |121Csee also Fig. 2) .merging into rounded #front and rear 4walls I3, I4. At the upper vend flo of the body, its `walls are vcut away at an angle thus providing an elongated openrmouth I6. This mouth -is ysurrounded by 'an loutwardly curled or rolledrim Hfon the top edge 'of the body walls.

The :lower 'endfof :the body is straight in order df( to provide :a -base for resting the dispenser on when fit :is .not in use. This endzof the body is also ,provided'with `an outwardly curled or rolled rim 1'8.

Abottom .-21 -is secured within the body II and 20 is preferably of an inverted -cone shape having a discharge lpipe Y22 which 'projects through the front wall .I3-.of vthebody. The discharge pipe is connected-.tonne endlofa iiexible hoseor tube 23 having at its opposite end a discharge spout, 24 ,.25 for fdispensing the contents of the dispenser. When vthedischarge `spout is :not in luse it is supported 'in an upright position alongside the body .b ya :hook .'25 which -is secured to the body front wall-I3. .30

yA handle f2.1 .is provided for carrying the dispenser. .This handleis held by -upper and lower .rigid straps 28, -29 .secured Yto the rear wall ci .shown in Figs. l1 and I3.

The cradle -is z-yieldably mounted on a pair of vez-'ticalfrods'k The upper ends of the rods are .-threadedfinto bosses .35.formed-on the cradle wall `sections 3|., 32. The lower'ends of the `rods ex- 545 tend-through holes 36 formed in a hollow bridge :member 31 .which is .disposed .within the dispenser and which is .rigidly secured at its 'ends to the dispenser -front and 'back walls I3, I4. A compression-spring 3.8 surrounds each rod and is in- {5,0

terposed between the bottom of its associated bcss.35:andthetop.of the vbridge member. These :springs support the cradle, vnormally vholding it in .rai-sed position as .shown vin Fig. 21, but at the same 'time `permitting depression 4of the cradle 55 within the dispenser to a position shown in Fig. 3.

Vertical movement of the cradle is restricted by pins 42 and a lug 43. The pins are located in the lower ends of the rods 34 and limit the upward travel of the cradle. The lug 43 is formed at the corner intersection or joint of the cradle wall sections 3|, 32 this being at the lowest part of the cradle. When the cradle approaches its lowermost position the lug enters a. slot 44 (see also Fig. 3) formed in the top of the bridge member. At the lowermost position the lug strikes against a web section 45 (see also Fig. 5) of the bridge member and this limits the downward movement of the cradle.

The can opening element or cutter D is dis-V posed inside the dispenser A and is mounted on top of the bridge member 31. YIn cross-section (Fig. 2) the cutter is shaped similar to the letter C having a curved vertical rear wall 5| (see also Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5), a pair of short straight and parallel side walls 52, and similar short straight front flanges 53. The top edge of the rear wall 5| is beveled to form a sharp point 55. This portion of the cutter when the cradle is in raised position frictionally engages against the forward face of the stop lug 43. The lower portion of the rear wall of the cutter is cut away thus providing an opening 56.

The top edge of the side walls 52 and of the front flanges 53 of the cutter D are also. beveled thus forming a cutting edge continuing forward from the top edge of the rear wall 5| and terminating in the front flanges. Lugs 51 are formed on the lower edges of the side walls and are bolted to the top of the bridge member 31. It is these lugs and bolts which hold the cutter in place. rThe side walls are also provided with openings 58.

The upper portion of the cutter D is adapted to extend up into the cradle C when the latter is pushed down into the position shown in Fig. 3. For this purpose the bottom wall section 3| of the cradle is provided with an opening 6| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is disposed adjacent the joint between this wall section and the side wall section 32.

The mutilating element E is also located inside the dispenser A and is adjacent the cutter D but on the opposite or rear side of the lug 43. This mutilating element comprises a vertically disposed short rod 63, the lower end of which is shouldered and threaded and is secured by a nut 64 in the top wall of the bridge member 31. The upper end of the rod is provided with a sharp point 65 which is adapted to enter into an opening 66 formed in the side wall section 32 of the cradle C when the latter is in the depressed position shown in Fig. 3. The rod is slightly curved as at 61.

A can B to be opened is placed in the cradle C with the bottom end of the can resting on the bottom wall section 3| and the side wall of the can supported by the curved side wall section 32 of the cradle. This position locates the bottom end seam of the can adjacent the joint between the wall sections of the cradle, i. e., adjacent the stop lug 43 as shown in Fig. 1. By applying a downward pressure on the can, the can and the cradle C are forced down, against the resistance of the supporting springs 38, into the dispenser A and over the opening element D and mutilating element E.

As the cradle and can descend over the elements D and E the sharp point of the cutter D enters the opening 6| of the cradle and punctures the bottom end of thecan adjacent its end seam.

` tom of thel can.

At the same time the sharp end of the mutilating element E enters the opening 66 of the cradle and punctures the side wall of the can adjacent the same end seam.

As the cradle and can move down further the cutting edges of the cutter front wall 5| and side walls 52 cut through the can bottom, turning back as the cutting proceeds the cut away portion of the can wall as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Near the end of the cutting stroke the front flanges 53 of thev cutter assist in this turning back feature. The cutting stops when the lug 43 strikes against the bridge member web 45. An opening 12 (Fig. Slis thus formed in the bot- 'Ihis can opening permits the contents of the can to drain out into the dispenser by way of the openings 56, 58 and the open front of the cutter.

During this same downward movement of the cradle and can the can side wall moves down over the curved section of the mutilating element E. This enlarges and elongates the punc ture in the side wall of the can and thus so mutilates the can body that it is rendered unt for subsequent use as a container of liquids.

When the contents of the opened can have fully drained out into the dispenser, a release of the pressure on the can permits the springs 38 to raise the cradle and the can into original potages, the form hereinbefore'described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination a dispenser adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to collect and hold the liquid from said receptacle, spaced receptacle opening and mutilating elements located within said dispenser, and a cradle also in said dispenser for supporting the receptacle to be opened, said cradle being vertically movable relative to said opening and mutilating elements for impaling the receptacle on 'the elements in 'order to produce a pouring opening in a wall of thereceptacle through which its contents may flow into the dispenser and to also produce a mutilation of the receptacle so that it will be rendered unfit for subsequent use as a container of liquids.

2. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be ,dispensed and also adapted to collect and hold the liquid from said receptacle, spaced receptacle opening and mutilating elements located within said dispenser, and a cradle angularly disposed in said dispenser for supporting at an angle the receptacle to be opened, said cradle being vertically movable relative tol said opening and mutilating elements for impaling the receptacle on the element in order to produce a pouring opening in the bottom of the receptacle adjacent the end seam connecting the bottom with a side wall of the receptacle, the opening so produced permitting emptying of the receptacle contents into 60 combination a dispenser adapted to receive a the dispenser, said impaling action also producing a mutilation of the receptacle side wall adjacent the end seam so that it will be rendered unfit for subsequent use as a container of liquids. I

3. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination a dispenser adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to collect and hold the liquid from said receptacle, a bridge member secured in said dispenser, a vertically movable cradle mounted on said bridge member for supporting a receptacle to be opened, a receptacle openingr element and a receptacle mutilating element also mounted on said bridge member beneath said cradle for simultaneously cutting into said receptacle when the cradle is pushed down in the dispenser, said opening element producing an opening in a bottom of the receptacle for emptying its contents into the dispenser and said mutilating element producing a tear in a side Wall of the receptacle which renders it unt for subsequent use as a container of liquids.

4. A liquid dispensing device, comprising in combination an open mouth dispenser adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to collect and hold the liquid from said receptacle, spaced receptacle opening and mutilating elements rigidly mounted within said dispenser, a vertically movable cradle disposed within said dispenser adjacent its open mouth for supporting the receptacle to be opened While the latter is moved down in the dispenser and impaled on said opening and mutilating elements for emptying the receptacle of its contents and for mutilating they receptacle to render the same unt for re-use as a container of liquids, and means for dislodging the impaled receptacle from said elements and for returning the cradle and its empty receptacle to their original position in the mouth of the dispenser so that the receptacle may be easily grasped for removal from the cradle.

5. A liquid dispensing device comprising in combination, a dispenser adapted to receive a sealed receptacle containing a liquid to be dispensed and also adapted to receive and hold the liquid from said receptacle, spaced receptacle opening and mutilating elements rigidly mounted Within said dispenser, and a cradle member mounted for vertical movement within and relative to said dispenser for supporting a receptacle to be opened, said opening and mutilating ele- Aments being adapted to cut into separate wall portions of said receptacle When the cradle member is moved vertically into engagement with said elements, said opening element producing an opening in one Wall of the receptacle for emptying its contents into the dispenser and said mutilating element producing an opening in another wall of the receptacle to render the same unfit for subsequent use as a container for liquids.

CHARLES C. ERB. 

